Giving Up Your Pets

My sister recently developed a severe allergy to her two cats and is trying to find them a new home. This is proving difficult on both emotional and practical levels.

Shown in the top photo is her cat Bernadette, with cockapoo Samson. They have been living together since Samson was a puppy and Bernadette was four months old, and were later joined by gray-haired Percy. We are sure that both my sister and her dog Samson will miss Bernadette and Percy when they'll be parted.

Unfortunately, the allergies continue to worsen and my sister's home, even with air filters and frequent cleaning, is becoming unbearable. She uses HEPA air filters, a HEPA vacuum cleaner, and a heated blanket at night on the couch that they sleep on instead of sleeping on her.

On a practical level, it turns out to be difficult to adopt out two adult cats in Toronto, especially those that come in a pair, with over 450 cats available for adoption through the Toronto Cat Rescue. Ideally, they would be adopted by a friend or family member who lives close by so that she can visit them. Pets are such a huge part of home-life and losing one or two can be traumatic.